Luis Guzmán to Star in Rian Johnson’s Peacock Series “Poker Face”

Posted on September 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzmán is playin’ poker…

The 66-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star in Peacock’s Poker Face, a mystery drama series starring Natasha Lyonne, hailing from Rian Johnson, his T-Street banner and MRC Television.

Guzman is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Cherry Jones, Hong Chau and Reed Birney.

Details of their roles, as well as plot details of the 10-episode anthology-like series are being kept under wraps.

In addition to Lyonne, the four join previously announced cast members Adrien Brody, Angel Desai, Audrey Corsa, Benjamin Bratt, Charles Melton, Chloe Sevigny, Clea DuVall, Danielle MacDonald, Dascha Polanco, Ellen Barkin, Jasmine Aiyana Garvin, Jameela Jamil, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judith Light, Leslie Silva, Lil Rel Howery, Niall Cunningham, Nicholas Cirillo, Nick Nolte, Ron Perlman, S. Epatha Merkerson, Shane Paul McGhie, Simon Helberg, Stephanie Hsu, Tim Blake Nelson and Tim Meadows.

Johnson is the creator, writer and director of Poker Face and will also executive produce alongside T-Street partner Ram Bergman and the company’s television president Nena Rodrigue. Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman (Prodigal Son, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) serve as showrunners and executive producers. Lyonne also will serve as an executive producer via her Animal Pictures. The company’s Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens will co-executive produce.

Guzmán is best known for his roles in Steven Soderbergh’s films such as Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic, and in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch-Drunk Love.

On television, he has had key roles on Showtime’s Shameless, Epix’s Godfather of Harlem and Perpetual Grace, LTD.

HBO Max Releases Trailer for DC Limited Series “DMZ,” Starring Rosario Dawson

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson is fightin’ for survival…

HBO Max has released a first look clip for limited series DMZ, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist.

The series “leaps off the pages of the DC acclaimed graphic novel into the visual landscape of a dangerous and distorted Manhattan as one woman navigates a demilitarized zone in a harrowing quest to find her lost son,” according to the series’ logline.

The trailer teases an overgrown Manhattan, tensions among survivors, and highlights all that Dawson’s character is willing to do to bring her son back into her arms.

DMZ also stars Benjamin Bratt, Hoon Lee, Freddy Miyares, Jordan Preston Carter, Venus Ariel.

Also cast in the series are Rutina Wesley, Nora Dunn, Jade Wu, Rey Gallegos, Mamie Gummer, Agam Darshi, Juani Feliz and Henry G. Sanders.

DMZ hails from creator Roberto Patino, who executive produces with Ava DuVernay and ARRAY Filmworks’ Paul Garnes.

The limited series is based on the comic book series published by DC written by Brian Wood and illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli. Patino serves as showrunner and wrote the first episode, which was directed by DuVernay.

Ernest Dickerson directs and executive produces three episodes.

DMZ is produced by DuVernay’s ARRAY Filmworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Rey Gallegos Joins Cast of Rosario Dawson’s Limited DC Comic-Based Series “DMZ”

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rey Gallegos is in the Zone… the demilitarized zone.

The Mexican actor will star in HBO Max’s DMZ, a limited series based on the DC comic series from Ava DuVernay, Roberto Patino and Warner Bros. Television.

Gallegos joins a cast that includes Rutina Wesley, Mamie Gummer, Nora Dunn and Henry G. Sanders.

Also joining stars Rosario Dawson and Benjamin Bratt are Venus Ariel, Jade Wu, Agam Darshi and Juani Feliz.

Joining the creative team are filmmaker Ernest Dickerson and Emmy winner Carly Wray.

Dickerson will direct and executive produce three episodes of the four-part series. DuVernay directed the first episode and executive produces the series.

DMZ is set in the near future, when America is embroiled in a bitter civil war, leaving Manhattan a demilitarized zone (DMZ), destroyed and isolated from the rest of the world. It chronicles the harrowing journey of fearless and fierce medic Alma Ortega (Dawson) to find the son she lost in the evacuation of New York City at the onset of the conflict. Throwing gasoline on the flames of that conflict is Parco Delgado (Bratt), the popular, and deadly, leader of one of the most powerful gangs in the DMZ. He wants to rule this new world and will stop at nothing to secure that outcome.

The drama will examine the stark political and cultural divide in American society, where Alma must contend with the gangs, militias, demagogues and warlords that control this lawless no man’s land. In doing so, she becomes the unlikely source of what everyone there has lost…hope.

Ariel will play the series regular role of Nico, a foul-mouthed scavenger with a hankering for mischief.

Gallegos will play Cesar, a ruthless and devoted consigliere who’ll stop at nothing to secure his gang’s authority in the DMZ.

Feliz will play Carmen, the fearless and fiery partner to the biggest bad in the DMZ, and a critical source of power and community in her native Spanish Harlem.

They join previously announced cast members Hoon Lee, Jordan Preston Carter and Freddy Miyares.

DMZ is produced by DuVernay’s Array Filmworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Gallegos previous credits include Gang Related, American Sniper and Spider-Man 3.

HBO Max Gives Series Order to Rosario Dawson’s Futuristic Drama “DMZ”

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson is heading to the demilitarized zone…

HBO Max has given a series order to Ava DuVernay and Roberto Patino’s DMZ, starring the 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist.

HBO Max ordered four episodes of the limited series, a futuristic drama set amid a second American civil war and based on the DC Comics series.

Production on the series is scheduled to start in 2021.

DMZ stars Dawson and Benjamin Bratt in the lead roles, alongside Hoon Lee, Freddy Miyares and Jordan Preston Carter.

DMZ is set in the near future, when America is embroiled in a bitter civil war, leaving Manhattan a demilitarized zone (DMZ), destroyed and isolated from the rest of the world. It chronicles the harrowing journey of fearless and fierce medic Alma Ortega (Dawson) to find the son she lost in the evacuation of New York City at the onset of the conflict. Throwing gasoline on the flames of that conflict is Parco Delgado (Bratt), the popular, and deadly, leader of one of the most powerful gangs in the DMZ. He wants to rule this new world and will stop at nothing to secure that outcome.

Patino, who will write all episodes and showrun the series, wrote the pilot episode, which was directed by DuVernay. Patino and DuVernay serve as executive producers on the series.

DMZ is produced by DuVernay’s ARRAY Filmworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this epic to the screen with my boundary-pushing partners at WBTV and HBO Max, a sublime cast led by Rosario and Benjamin, and my partner and friend, the inimitable and ever-inspiring Ava DuVernay,” said Patino. “DMZ offers up an explosive playground which, more than anything else, exalts the resilience of community and the human spirit. I can’t wait to welcome the die-hard fans of the comic books and new viewers alike to this intoxicating, haunting and inspiring world.”

Dawson’s television credits include The Mandalorian, Briarpatch and Jane the Virgin. She’ll soon appear in the upcoming miniseries Dopesick.

Freddy Miyares to Star in the HBO Max Pilot “DMZ”

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Freddy Miyaresis getting comic-al…

The 25-year-old Latino actor has been cast in Ava DuVernay’s upcoming HBO Max pilot DMZ, an adaptation of the DC comic book series.

Miyares will star opposite Rosario Dawsonand Benjamin Brattin the project.

DMZ is set in the near future where Americais embroiled in a bitter civil war, leaving Manhattana demilitarized zone — hence the title of the series. The show chronicles the journey of fierce medic Alma Ortega (Dawson), who saves lives while desperately searching for her lost son. As she contends with the gangs, militias, demagogues and warlords that control this lawless no man’s land, she becomes the unlikely source of hope.

Miyares will be a series regular and play the character of Skel, the ruthless triggerman of one of the DMZ’s most powerful gangs, led by Parco Delgado (Bratt). He’s also a talented graffiti artist with a profound passion for art, which serves as his lasting connection to his humanity in a world where survival is predicated on power.

Miyares previously worked with DuVernay on the Emmy-winning Netflix series When They See Us, playing the adult Raymond Santana, one of the Exonerated Five.

He recently appeared in the Showtime drama series The L Word: Generation Q. His other credits include appearances on Elementaryand The Code.

The project will be written and executive produced by showrunner Roberto Patino. DuVernay is set to direct and executive produce. The pilot is produced by ARRAY Filmworksin association with Warner Bros. Television.

Benjamin Bratt’s Cancelled Fox Series “Star” May Return with a TV Movie

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Benjamin Bratt’s star could shine again soon…

The 55-year-old half-Peruvian American actor’s cancelled Fox musical drama Star could return as a televised movie, according to show’s co-creator Lee Daniels.

“The bad news is that Star is not getting picked up for series,” said Daniels in a video post on Instagram, calling the explanation “too long of a story to cry about.”

“The good news is: we’re doing a movie of the week to wrap things up for you all,” he said, adding, “We’re going to make something real special for you to scream about, with all of our cast members – even the dead ones.”

Star, a drama series about three girls’ rise to fame, was cancelled in May after three seasons on the air. Co-created by Daniels and Tom Donaghy, the show was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Lee Daniels Entertainment. Jude Demorest.

Bratt starred alongside Ryan Destiny, Brittany O’Grady, Queen Latifah, Quincy Brownand Amiyah Scottin the series.

William Levy Lands Series Regular Role on Fox’s Music Drama Series “Star”

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

William Levy’s star is on the rise…

The 37-year-old Cuban actor is joining the cast of Fox’s music drama series Star as a new series regular for the upcoming third season.

Levy will play Mateo Ferrera, a driven media mogul who can charm the devil into church. He is rich, successful, smooth as silk and married to his equal, Nina Ferrera, played by Camila Banus. Mateo makes and breaks his own rules as he sprints toward success. The first generation son of immigrant parents, he is determined to make his mark and build his legacy by any means necessary.

Co-created by Lee Daniels and Tom Donaghy, Star follows three talented singers – running from their pasts and desperate for a new start – with ambitions of stardom, as they navigate the cutthroat music business.

The large ensemble cast includes Queen Latifah, Benjamin Bratt, Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny, Brittany O’Grady, Amiyah Scott, Quincy Brown, Miss Lawrence, Michael Michele, Stephen Dorff and Luke James.

Telenovela star Levy’s Spanish-language Triunfo Del Amor was the most watched scripted series on American television. On the film side, Levy appeared in Lionsgate’s Addicted, Universal’s Term Life alongside Vince Vaughn, and most recently, Universal’s blockbuster Girls Trip.

La La Anthony Lands Recurring Role on Fox’s Drama Series “Star”

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony’s Star is rising.

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican actress and television personality has landed a recurring role on Fox’s music-fueled drama series Star.

Anthony will portray Paola, the estranged mother of Angel (guest star Evan Ross) who also happens to have a connection to Jahil (Benjamin Bratt).

Anthony’s recent television credits include Starz’s Power and the Lifetime telepic The New Edition Story. She also has appeared in the recent features Double Play, Deuces and Destined.

She first earned national attention in the early 2000s as a VJ on MTV’s Total Request Live and went on to host a number of reality shows for its corporate sibling VH1 including Flavor of Love. She also starred in the reality television programs La La’s Full Court Wedding and La La’s Full Court Life.

Anthony Gonzalez’s Disney-Pixar Film “Coco” Wins Thanksgiving Holiday Box Office

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

He’s nowhere near voting age, but Anthony Gonzalez is beating superheroes at the box office…

The 13-year-old Latino actor voices the character of Miguel, a young Mexican boy with musical dreams who has a wondrous adventure in the Land of the Dead in Disney–Pixar’s animated film Coco, which won the Thanksgiving holiday box office.

Gonzalez’s Coco earned $71.2 million at 3,987 North American sites during the Wednesday-Sunday period, while Warner Bros.–DC Entertainment’s Justice League pulled in $60 million at 4,051 locations during the same timeframe in its second weekend in theaters.

Coco posted for the fourth-best Thanksgiving holiday opening ever, trailing three other Disney titles — Frozen with $93 million in 2013, Moana with $82 million in 2017 and Toy Story 3 with $80 million in 2010.

Audiences surveyed by comScore’s PostTrak gave Coco strong ratings with 66% calling it “excellent,” and another 23% rating it “very good.” Surveys also showed 77% of viewers saying they would “definitely recommend” the movie to friends and 20% saying they would watch it again in a theater.

Coco, directed by Lee Unkrich and co-directed by Adrian Molina, is based on the traditions surrounding the Day of the Dead holiday in Mexico and centers on a 12-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a musician and explores his family history in the Land of the Dead. The studio hasn’t released a price for the movie. Disney-Pixar titles are usually budgeted in the $175 million to $200 million range.

In addition to Gonzalez, in his breakout role, Coco’s ensemble voice cast includes Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Renee Victor, Edward James Olmos, Ana Ofelia Murguia, Jaime Camil, Sofia Espinosa, Gabriel Iglesias, Cheech Marin and Lombardo Boyar.

The holiday weekend is one of the busiest moviegoing periods of the year. According to comScore, this year’s five-day Thanksgiving weekend saw total grosses his $268 million — $7.5 million better than last year’s when Moana opened with $82 million, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them taking in $65 million in its second weekend.

The strong holiday performance left the 2017 overall domestic total at $9.71 billion, or 4% behind the same point last year, according to comScore. The industry fell behind last year’s record-setting total due to downbeat performances in August and October — so much so that the much-anticipated Dec. 15 opening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi will probably not be enough to pulled this year even.

Natalia Cordova-Buckley to Voice Frida Kahlo in Disney/Pixar’s “Coco”

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Natalia Cordova-Buckley is getting her Frida on…

The 34-year-old Mexican actress makes a cameo appearance as the voice of legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in the English language-version of Disney/Pixar’s animated film Coco.

The film, which features Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Edward James Olmos, and Anthony Gonzalez, follows Miguel, who through a mysterious and otherworldly chain of events, meets charming trickster Héctor (Bernal), and, together, they set off on an adventure of music and mystery, resulting in the most unusual family reunion.

The pic is directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), co-directed by Adrian Molina and produced by Darla K. Anderson.

It screened at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico and will open in U.S. theaters November 22.

Cordova-Buckley is best known in the U.S. for her role on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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